How far is Chapel Hill, NC from Pineville, NC?

The driving distance from Chapel Hill, NC to Pineville, NC is about 165.6 miles (266.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 118.2 miles (190.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 15m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
165.63 mi
03h 37m
Flight
118.17 mi
190.17 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chapel Hill.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
118.17 mi
Kilometers
190.17 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
165.63 mi
Kilometers
266.55 km
Drive Time
03h 37m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Pineville
Sat, Apr 18, 5:50 AM EDT
Return by in Chapel Hill
Sat, Apr 18, 9:28 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chapel Hill
2026-04-18T02:12
Arrive Pineville
Sat, Apr 18, 5:50 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:38 AM to 11:38 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:44 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chapel Hill
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Columbus
NC

Town in Polk County, North Carolina, United States

From Chapel Hill
82.8 mi
01h 48m
To Pineville
82.8 mi
01h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph SSW
Destination
92°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 12 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Chapel Hill and Pineville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill and Pineville.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    8 m · 5 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Chapel Hill Road

    1.6 mi · 6 min · Chapel Hill Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Guntertown Road

    2.2 mi · 5 min · Guntertown Road

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left

    3.5 mi · 6 min

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    20.9 mi · 32 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right

    3.9 mi · 5 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    4.2 mi · 5 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 26 East, US 74A West: West Asheville

    1238 ft · 21 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Billy Graham Freeway

    2585 ft · 44 sec · Billy Graham Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Billy Graham Freeway

    26.2 mi · 32 min · Billy Graham Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    12 mi · 14 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 74 East, NC 108: Columbus, Rutherfordton

    1433 ft · 19 sec · Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

    810 ft · 11 sec · Sergeant W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

    17.9 mi · 20 min · Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on James A. Callahan Highway

    15.2 mi · 17 min · James A. Callahan Highway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward West Dixon Boulevard

    12.4 mi · 18 min · West Dixon Boulevard

  17. 17

    Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

    6.8 mi · 8 min · Senator J. Ollie Harris Highway

  19. 19

    Take the exit straight toward I 85, US 29 South: Charlotte, Spartanburg

    572 ft · 8 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Gastonia, Charlotte

    1.3 km · 56 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway

    17.6 mi · 21 min · Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway

  22. 22

    Continue on Cameron Morrison Bridge

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Cameron Morrison Bridge

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward I 485: Pineville, Huntersville

    2662 ft · 1 min

  24. 24

    Keep slight right to continue on I 485 Outer South: Columbia, Pineville

    1.1 km · 1 min

  25. 25

    Keep slight left to continue on I 485 South Outer

    2949 ft · 1 min

  26. 26

    Merge slight left onto Seddon "Rusty" Goode Freeway

    8.3 mi · 9 min · Seddon "Rusty" Goode Freeway

  27. 27

    Keep slight right to continue on Governor James G Martin Freeway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Governor James G Martin Freeway

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 51 South: Pineville, Mathews Road

    1791 ft · 46 sec

  29. 29

    Turn straight

    1.4 km · 2 min

  30. 30

    Turn left onto Dover Street

    1036 ft · 52 sec · Dover Street

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Price Street

    96 m · 14 sec · Price Street

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Price Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Chapel Hill and Pineville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
32 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
19.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Guntertown Road
31.2 mi · 19%
Billy Graham Freeway
26.7 mi · 16%
Sgt W Dean Arledge Memorial Highway
18.1 mi · 11%
Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway
17.6 mi · 11%
James A. Callahan Highway
15.2 mi · 9%
Andrew Jackson Highway
13.8 mi · 8%
Longest Stretch

Billy Graham Freeway

Keep slight right to continue on Billy Graham Freeway

26.2 mi · 00h 32m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 37m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+47.4 mi
118.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Columbus
01h 48m from Chapel Hill
Leave By
9:44 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Chapel Hill and Mostly Sunny near Pineville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Chapel Hill to Pineville?

The road trip is about 165.6 miles (266.5 km) and usually takes 03h 37m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Columbus is a useful midpoint, sitting about 82.8 miles from Chapel Hill and 82.8 miles from Pineville.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 118.2 miles (190.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 47.4 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:44 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.13 one way or $46.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Chapel Hill and Mostly Sunny near Pineville.

Stop Ideas Near Columbus

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Columbus and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town Hall of Tryon
Scenic stop 9.7 mi away

Town Hall of Tryon

Tryon , NC
301 N Trade St, Tryon, NC 28782
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Business park,Park
Town of Rutherfordton
Meeting point 9.5 mi away

Town of Rutherfordton

Rutherfordton , NC
129 N Main St, Rutherfordton, NC 28139
Rating 5.0/5 4 reviews Local government office,City Hall
Town of Lake Lure, Lake Operations Office
Nearby stop 10.6 mi away

Town of Lake Lure, Lake Operations Office

Lake Lure , NC
197 Buffalo Shoals Rd, Lake Lure, NC 28746
Municipal administration office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Columbus.

RAIL

Spartanburg

41 mi away
290 Magnolia St
RAIL

Greenville

48 mi away
1120 West Washington Street
RAIL

Clemson

85 mi away
Calhoun Memorial Hwy and College Ave.
RAIL

Gastonia

94 mi away
350 Hancock Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chapel Hill and Pineville. Straight-line distance: 118.17 mi (190.17 km).

Chapel Hill

#1 Chapel Hill

Town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States

Population63,705
Coordinates35.9428800, -82.7087500
Altitude658
CountryUnited States
Pineville

#2 Pineville

Pineville is a city in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Population9,185
Coordinates35.0832000, -80.8923000
Altitude174
CountryUnited States
Start: Chapel Hill (-82.70875, 35.94288)
End: Pineville (-80.8923, 35.0832)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 267 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.84 gal
22.12 L · about $23.13
Round trip
$46.26
11.68 gal · 44.24 L
Estimated CO2
51.9 kg one way
Round trip: 103.8 kg / 229 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $23.13 $46.26
Mid-grade $4.43 $25.87 $51.73
Premium $4.78 $27.90 $55.81
Diesel $5.62 $32.84 $65.69

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in North Carolina · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Chapel Hill and Pineville. The current time is 02:12:46.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.